Sleep Like a Bird in Jayson Fann's Human Nests

Sleep like a Bird in One of Jayson Fann’s Human Nests

By Sumitra on March 25th, 2013 Category: Architecture

California-based artist Jayson Fann designs and creates nests for humans, where one can experience what it feels like to sleep like a bird. Made from tree branches harvested from local forests, the Spirit Nests are available for purchase from Big Sur Spirit Garden, an international arts and culture center in the Big Sur valley. Or, you could head to the only nest that’s open to public at the Treebones Resort, on the Big Sur Coast.

Before you start dreaming of spending a night in a nest, you must know that these structures don’t exactly provide the best of comfort. They aren’t water proof and have no other amenities except maybe a mattress or two. If it starts to rain, the best you can do is pitch a tent inside the nest. But if you are prone to roughing it out in nature, then this is one experience you don’t want to miss. The nest at Treebones can accommodate up to 8 people and is made from the branches of eucalyptus trees. The ones that Jayson sells to individuals can be as small as a love-seat or large enough for 30 people.

I was curious to know more about how Jayson creates these nests, so I visited the Big Sur Spirit Garden website, where he describes the process in great detail. The nests, he says, are made from branches harvested from local forests. Jayson has a great respect for trees, so he chooses the branches and cuts them with care, making sure that the trees are not damaged. The best branches come from the top of the trees, since they are mature and strong. Their spiraling shapes are helpful as well. After the leaves are removed, the branches are transferred to a safe location with minimal risk of fire. The branches are sorted according to size, then Jayson assembles them like pieces of a puzzle to create a spiraling pattern designed for structural integrity and the flowing aesthetic. Once the nest gets to a certain size, it is transported to the actual location and rested on a strong base with the help of a crane. The finishing touches are then added with an interior mattress and a ladder for access.

A single nest for 8 people requires about 2.5 trailer loads of wood. A custom made nest can cost anywhere between $4,000 and $20,000. The website says that all this money goes towards sponsoring the international arts and cultural initiatives of Big Sur Spirit Garden. These nests represent a wonderful way of living in harmony with nature and our surroundings. Now, if only they could figure out a way to fit a T.V. in there!